Lai Qing’s face was sunburned red. He was wiping sweat from his face with his sleeve when he saw the Empress Dowager. His heart leaped with joy. But then seeing the Grand Princess following beside the Empress Dowager, the smile on his face froze. He quickly ran down to the fields to find Zhao Hanzhang. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Grand Princess have arrived.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan straightened their backs together and looked back in unison. Seeing the three people being escorted over, Zhao Hanzhang called to Fu Tinghan: “Let’s rest a while.”

Fu Tinghan complied.

Seeing the two emerge, Lady Wang sighed in relief and quickly took bowls from a basket carried by a palace maid to serve them soup. “Come quickly, I made you sour plum soup.”

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s face covered in sweat, Lady Wang looked somewhat disgusted. She served the soup to Fu Tinghan first, then took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her face. “Do you really intend to harvest all the rice in this field?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “There’s not much left. Look how many of us there are.”

Except for the first day when she brought ministers to symbolically cut a little and tour around, these past two days she had worked hands-on, from harvesting to bundling rice sheaves and carrying them out—she led from the front.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan. “Why have Father and Mother come?”

Princess Hongnong said: “Hearing His Majesty was harvesting rice here, the consort and I came to help.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded without refusing, but first had lunch before continuing.

At Zhao Hanzhang’s command, Zeng Yue led the Imperial Guards out carrying sickles. Soldiers brought a basket of flatbread and two buckets of soup.

Two flatbreads and one bowl of soup per person. Everyone either stood or squatted on the ground to eat.

Zhao Hanzhang and the others ate lunch brought by the Empress Dowager—a small bamboo basket of steamed buns with three dishes and one soup.

Lady Wang knew Zhao Hanzhang had a large appetite, so she specifically brought extra buns. Opening the bamboo basket, a layer of gauze covered still-steaming buns that looked very appetizing.

Zhao Hanzhang first distributed to the three elders, then pushed the bamboo basket toward Fu Tinghan and walked toward where the soldiers were eating.

Zeng Yue was gnawing on flatbread at the side. Seeing her approach, he understood immediately and took two from the large basket to give her.

Zhao Hanzhang accepted them and asked: “Do you have enough?”

Zeng Yue replied: “Enough. The kitchen always makes extra. This is autumn harvest—they wouldn’t dare short us on food and drink.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt reassured and took a bite. The flatbread contained minced meat mixed with chopped scallions and baked—honestly, quite delicious.

Seeing her eat with relish, Zeng Yue offered her the one in his hand. Zhao Hanzhang pushed it back, waved her hand, and walked away, also waving to the Imperial Guards watching her. “Brothers, eat your fill. When autumn harvest break ends, I’ll treat you all to a feast!”

The Imperial Guards all happily agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang returned to the mat with three meat flatbreads. Only then did Princess Hongnong recover her senses. They had come unexpectedly, so the lunch the Empress Dowager prepared wasn’t enough.

Princess Hongnong set down the bun in her hand. “We came at an inopportune time…”

Before Zhao Hanzhang could console her, Lady Wang immediately said: “Princess, please don’t say that. This child has always had a large appetite and often eats with the soldiers. Even when you hadn’t come, they regularly ate together. Tinghan, isn’t that so?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “Yes.”

He asked Princess Hongnong: “Did you come because you have matters to discuss with us?”

Princess Hongnong gripped her bun tightly, pausing before saying: “No, I just heard His Majesty and you were harvesting, setting an example for the people, so wanted to come help.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said: “Mother came at just the right time. With your participation, we can finish harvesting this rice field tomorrow morning, then plow the land to prepare for sowing winter wheat.”

Princess Hongnong turned to look at the golden rice fields. They had already been harvested more than halfway, with only one irregularly-shaped section remaining. “You’re going to plow this land and plant wheat?”

“No, the land’s fertility is limited. After harvesting this field, it needs rest. Next year after one season of soybeans, it’ll switch to winter wheat. See that empty field beside it? This year’s winter wheat will be planted there.”

Princess Hongnong craned her neck to look and frowned slightly. “So much grass.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “All new grass. After the flood, that land was left empty. I had people scatter some fertilizer. The village settlement of the imperial manor is nearby. They let cattle, pigs, and chickens graze on that land. Over half a year, the grass ate the sparse fertilizer and grew better and better. Planting crops in such soil will also thrive.”

Princess Hongnong was curious. “As I traveled here, half the imperial manor’s land lay fallow. Are the manor’s servants negligent?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “This year’s flood—replanting couldn’t keep pace, so most land lies fallow. But land should be rotated anyway to maintain fertility. Of course, this is just our plan, not yet announced to the people. Common folk rarely practice scientific farming. The people also can’t withstand experimentation, so they all farm by traditional methods. Experimental work can only be done by the court and imperial household.”

Fu Tinghan, seeing she didn’t quite understand, explained in detail: “That field will plant winter wheat. Next year after the wheat harvest, half will be left fallow, half will switch to soybeans. The following year, rotate to rice. This allows comparison—after one season of wheat, is planting soybeans or leaving land fallow better for maintaining fertility? All this requires verification one by one.”

Previously, their agricultural research focused on cultivating superior varieties, composting, and improving planting methods. Shen Ruhui even researched plants for preventing diseases and pests, but they had neglected nurturing soil fertility.

This year’s flooding destroyed much good farmland, washing away fertile topsoil. Fertility was limited. Common folk spontaneously sealed off land to nurture soil fertility. Only then did the court awaken—they too must pay attention to maintaining soil fertility.

So the Ministry of Agriculture began systematic research.

But relying on the Ministry of Agriculture alone wasn’t enough, so Zhao Hanzhang had imperial manors participate, using estates under her name for various experiments.

Princess Hongnong understood. After lunch, she followed them to the fields to harvest rice.

However, after only half an hour, because the sun was directly overhead, they returned to tree shade to rest.

When it was the Hour of the Monkey and the weather cooled somewhat, they went back down. This time, except for occasionally rising to drink water, they bent their backs cutting until sunset.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan tried several times to persuade her without success. Lady Wang could only take up a sickle herself.

With her in-law mother harvesting rice, her refinement truly couldn’t allow her to sit comfortably under tree shade.

However, Lady Wang knew how to slack off. With Qinggu helping beside her, she actually appeared no worse than Princess Hongnong.

Seeing Lady Wang’s expression of proud relief after surviving calamity, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help laughing. She personally helped the two mothers onto the carriage, had Fu Tinghan sit with Fu Xuan, while she sat together with Princess Hongnong.

Zhao Hanzhang rolled down her sleeves, poured her a cup of tea and handed it over. “If Mother has something to say, please speak freely.”

Princess Hongnong gripped the teacup tightly. After thinking, she felt she really couldn’t bend her waist tomorrow, so she said: “Wandering about with nothing to do, I heard that many new schools opened in villages around Luoyang. Most enrollees are female students. Though they can attend school, they must return home daily. Not only must they do housework, occasionally they also work in fields, causing frequent late arrivals and early departures. School attendance is irregular.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Currently, the lowest-level schools in most Hua Kingdom regions were still county schools—schools opened in county seats.

Age-appropriate children enrolling could live at home if they resided in or near the county seat. Those living far away all boarded at school.

Only Luoyang and several surrounding counties were currently piloting bringing schools to villages—that is, opening schools in large market towns, commonly called townships, typically centers for several villages.

These schools had only three grade levels and only handled compulsory education. Opening them in villages served two purposes: first, convenience for village students; second, reducing pressure on county schools.

Because it was unknown if this was suitable, it was only being tested in Luoyang and surrounding counties.

Princess Hongnong deeply pitied those children. She wanted to donate money specifically to support them. “Cook meals at the schools so they needn’t rush home at noon. I’ve heard that at midday dismissal, children return home to wash clothes, fetch water, feed pigs and chickens, clean rooms. Some are even taken to fields for farm work, often not released until well past noon. By the time children run all the way to school, it’s nearly the Hour of the Monkey. Teachers are very dissatisfied.”

Zhao Hanzhang lightly tapped the table. “The princess means to directly keep children at school—as long as they come that day, they cannot leave midway, and meals are all handled on campus.”

Princess Hongnong’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t thought of this point. She only wanted to donate money for school meals so they needn’t return home. But the emperor’s method was obviously better.

She immediately nodded. “Yes, exactly what I meant.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly. “Possible, but with so many students, relying entirely on the princess’s support won’t work. How about this—have children bring grain and vegetables from home, all sent to school to cook together. The princess’s charitable funds would be supplementary.”

Princess Hongnong paused. “Won’t their parents become even more unwilling to let them study?”

“Then they can only serve labor—one school year, at least three months. As long as they’re willing to contribute that effort,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Education is a lasting endeavor. It’s impossible to complete relying on one person’s assistance. It requires millions of households working together.”

Zhao Hanzhang decided the next newspaper issue would write about girls’ education benefits and have schools and ward chiefs promote it.

Now, women and men alike could enter court as officials or military service as generals.

Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head to look back and raised an eyebrow—they could even make her mother Empress Dowager!

Zhao Hanzhang immediately knew how to handle this matter. Upon returning to the palace, she immediately went to help Lady Wang.

Lady Wang’s waist and back ached from exhaustion. Dismounting, her waist nearly couldn’t straighten. “Sanniang, tomorrow Mother won’t go to the fields to see you.”

She now felt living in the palace wasn’t bad after all.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly. “Mother, don’t go. Rest one day. Day after tomorrow I’ll take you out of the palace to enjoy yourself.”

Lady Wang perked up and asked: “Where?”

“We’ll first visit children at the Benevolent Hall, then go to the countryside to visit common folk rushing through harvest, letting them see the Empress Dowager’s dignified bearing.”

Lady Wang protested: “…I’ve lived this long and only heard Empress Dowagers should receive noble ladies in the palace. I never knew they should also go to benevolent halls and countryside. Wouldn’t it be fine to send palace servants to these places?”

“How can they compare to your dignified bearing, Mother? We originally came from the countryside ourselves, once living on manor estates. Common folk know you’re kind and virtuous, taught such a capable daughter as me, and such a valiant son as Erlang. They all want to meet you.”

Lady Wang felt her waist and back pain lessen considerably, her stifled feelings dissipate. She smiled broadly: “It’s you siblings who grew up well, plus your grandfather’s fine teaching. What credit do I have?”

Though she said this, she straightened her back, her face full of pride.

Zhao Hanzhang summoned a sedan chair and escorted her all the way back to Xuanguang Hall. After coaxing her into complete compliance and happiness, she returned to Deyang Hall.

Fu Tinghan had already washed his hair and bathed, sitting on the couch watching her. “Why were you coaxing Mother so? What’s your purpose?”

Zhao Hanzhang rotated her neck. “To let common folk throughout the realm know how wonderful having daughters is. If only Father were here—he’d have a Grand Emperor title locked down without question. So you see, cultivating daughters isn’t inferior to cultivating sons. Thinking must be opened up, horizons broadened.”

“The disparity in male-female status, while certainly having productive force reasons, I believe ideological constraints are the greatest factor. When the nation was newly founded, Chairman Mao said women can hold up half the sky. That vigorous women’s movement—going to fields, repairing rivers—women participated in all this. Was there no difference in physical strength then?”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Men plow, women weave—clothing and food. You should know that civilian cloth and garments overwhelmingly come from women. Without food, people starve to death. Without clothing, people freeze to death. Hunger and cold have always been discussed together. So even speaking of life contribution, women’s contribution is no less than men’s. Why should their status always be lower?”

“Ultimately, it’s an ideological problem. Because those standing in court halls are all men, those writing are also mostly men. But now it’s different. Women equally have the right to stand in court. So as long as we establish the ideology of gender equality and reform old corrupt customs, even if we can’t achieve male-female equality in ten or twenty years, surely we can in one or two hundred years.”

Zhao Hanzhang continued: “Most wonderful is that our current efforts, even if we can’t immediately reverse all girls’ fates, as long as even one lives better than her original trajectory, our actions aren’t in vain.”

Ting He knocked on the door and bowed: “Your Majesty, hot water is ready.”

Zhao Hanzhang went to bathe first.

Fu Tinghan sat alone on the couch thinking. When she emerged from the bath drying her hair, he was writing and sketching on the low table with a brush.

Zhao Hanzhang curiously stepped forward for a glance. Her hand paused mid-hair-drying. “What’s this?”

Fu Tinghan said: “Didn’t you say clothing and food are equally important? In that case, let’s improve textile and tailoring efficiency, enhance their productive capacity, so they can gain strength not just ideologically but also in production value.”

“Though looms and spinning wheels have been improved, the models are too large, currently only suitable for workshops. I’ll go to the Ministry of Works later to investigate, find people to research further, see if they can be miniaturized while increasing output. Best if every household can own them. Also sewing machines—if we had those, wouldn’t tailoring speed greatly increase?”

Zhao Hanzhang cupped his face and bit hard on his lips, laughing loudly: “Tinghan, you truly are my angel.”

Fu Tinghan’s face flushed completely red, his ears nearly dripping blood.